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Associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging abnormalities: a systematic review
Heringa SM, Bouvy WH, van den Berg E, Moll AC, Kappelle LJ, Biessels GJ.. Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 2013-04-17
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Retinal microvascular changes can be visualized noninvasively and have been associated with cognitive decline and brain changes in relation to aging and vascular disease. We systematically reviewed studies, published between 1990 and November 2012, on the association between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging abnormalities, in the context of aging and vascular risk factors. In cross-sectional studies (k=26), retinal microvascular changes were associated with the presence of dementia (range of odds ratios (ORs) 1.17;5.57), with modest decrements in cognitive functioning in nondemented people (effect sizes -0.25;0.03), and with brain imaging abnormalities, including atrophy and vascular lesions (ORs 0.94;2.95). Longitudinal studies were more sparse (k=9) and showed no consistent associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia or cognitive dysfunctioning 3 to 15 years later (ORs and hazard ratios 0.77;1.55). However, there were indications of prospective associations with brain imaging abnormalities ((ORs) 0.81;3.19). In conclusion, particularly in cross-sectional studies there is a correlation between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive impairment, and brain imaging abnormalities. Associations are strongest for more severe retinal microvascular abnormalities. Retinal microvascular abnormalities may offer an important window on the brain for etiological studies.
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APA 7th
Heringa, S. M., Bouvy, W. H., van den Berg, E., Moll, A. C., Kappelle, L. J., & Biessels, G. J. (2013). Associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging abnormalities: a systematic review. Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2013.58
Vancouver
Heringa SM, Bouvy WH, van den Berg E, Moll AC, Kappelle LJ, Biessels GJ. Associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging abnormalities: a systematic review. Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 2013. doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2013.58. PMID: 23591648.
BibTeX
@article{heringa2013-23591648,
author = {Heringa, S. M. and Bouvy, W. H. and van den Berg, E. and Moll, A. C. and Kappelle, L. J. and Biessels, G. J.},
title = {{Associations between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive functioning, and brain imaging abnormalities: a systematic review}},
journal = {Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1038/jcbfm.2013.58},
pmid = {23591648},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2013.58}
}
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Key findings
- Retinal microvascular changes can be visualized noninvasively and have been associated with cognitive decline and brain changes in relation to aging and vascular disease.
- In cross-sectional studies (k=26), retinal microvascular changes were associated with the presence of dementia (range of odds ratios (ORs) 1.17;5.57), with modest decrements in cognitive functioning in nondemented people (effect sizes -0.25;0.03), and with brain imaging abnormalities, including atrophy and vascular lesions (ORs 0.94;2.95).
- In conclusion, particularly in cross-sectional studies there is a correlation between retinal microvascular changes and dementia, cognitive impairment, and brain imaging abnormalities.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 35 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 60 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 23591648) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 35 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 35 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 60 out of 100. |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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